Mineral mining installations

ABSTRACT

A mineral mining installation which has a mineral face conveyor arranged to transfer mineral onto a roadway conveyor supported on a trough and movable relative thereto. Roof support props are disposed on the side of the roadway conveyor adjacent the mineral face conveyor. The props are operably divided into a first set of props connected for movement with the trough and a second set of props connected for movement with the mineral face conveyor and slidably guided on a beam provided on the trough. A shifting ram connected between the trough and the second set of props is used to relatively move the trough and the mineral face conveyor.

United States Patent 1151 3,691,7 7 5 Holtrup et al. 451 Sept. 19, 1972[54] MINERAL MINING INSTALLATIONS 3,471,201 10/1969 Small ..6l/45 D X[72] Inventors: Bernhard Holtrup, Cappen- V I bergerstrasse 28, 4712weme; Primary Examiner-Dennis L. Taylor Johannes Laabs KonigslandwehrAttorney-Roberts, Cushman & Grover 46, 4619 Oberaden, both of Germany[57] ABSTRACT [22] Fil d; J 11, 1970 A mineral mining installation whichhas a mineral face conveyor arranged to transfer mineral onto a roadway[21] Appl. No.. 45,471 conveyor supported on a trough and movablerelative thereto. Roof support props are disposed on the side [30]Foreign Application Pri rity D t of the roadway conveyor adjacent themineral face Aug. 13, 1969 Germany ..P 19 41 094.7

v The props are operably divided into a first set of props [52] U.S. Cl...61/45 D nn t d r m n with th tr ugh a a nd [51] Int. Cl. ..E2ld 23/00set of props connected for movement with the mineral [58] Field ofSearch ..61/45 D; 299/11, 31, 33; face conveyor and slidably guided on abeam provided 248/357; 198/126 on the trough. [56] References Chad Ashifting ram connected between the trough and the second set of props isused .to relatively move the UNITED STATES PATENTS trough and themineral face conveyor.

1,450,603 4/1923 Morgan ..6 l/45 D 13 Claims, 6 Drawing FiguresPATENTEUSEPIS 1912 I 3,691. 775 sum 1 ur a v LL m 1 m cu r\ L0 wINVENTORS 287M471 .Hblirm ATTORNEY PATENTEDSEHQIQYZ 3.691.775

SHEEI 2 OF 3 INVENTORS fer/liar! 'fafra ATTORNEY PATENTEDSEP 19 1912 saw3 or 3 FIG-4 YFIG.6

FIG.5

MINERAL MINING INSTALLATIONS BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION ln mineralmining it is known to use a roadway conveyor in a roadway gallery toreceive mineral from a mineral face conveyor.

With such an arrangement it is necessary to periodically advance themineral face conveyor in the direction of the mineral face which isbeing worked.

This advancing process presents constructional difficulties.

Arrangements are known in which a beam is provided which absorbs theforces transmitted by the roadway conveyor during the shiftingoperation. A beam of this kind is connected with roof support propswhich are braceable between the roof and the floor of the mine working.The roadway conveyor is movable along the beam, so that when the latteris fixed the roadway conveyor can move with the mineral face conveyor tothereby keep pace with the progress of working for a certain time untilthe beam needs advancing. At this stage the end of the roadway conveyoris fixed and the beam fed forward.

It has also been suggested that the roadway conveyor should be connectedwith a loading conveyor built into the roadway in front of the roadconveyor and that this loading conveyor should be advancedsimultaneously with the roadway conveyor. Here again the forcetransmitted by the roadway conveyor would be absorbed by a beampositioned parallel with the loading conveyor. The connection betweenthe end of the roadway conveyor and the loading conveyor would beprovided by a reinforced length of channelling belonging to the latterconveyor.

The use of a beam of this nature involves the drawback that the transferstation between the mineral face and roadway conveyors occupiesconsiderable space and that when the beam is being fed forward care hasto be taken to ensure that it is aligned correctly. If, on the otherhand, a connection is made between the end of the roadway conveyor andthe aforementioned loading conveyor, then the latter must always bemoved during the shifting operation.

A general object of this invention is to provide an improvedinstallation of the type generally discussed hereinbefore.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there isprovided a mineral mining installation comprising a mineral faceconveyor, a roadway conveyor extending generally perpendicularly to thesaid mineral face conveyor, a trough member adapted to receive theroadway conveyor and movable in relation to the roadway conveyor, a setof roof support-props disposed on the side of the roadway conveyoradjacent the mineral face conveyor and connected to said trough memberfor movement therewith, a further set of roof support props connected toone another and to the mineral face conveyor for movement therewith, andshifting means for causing relative movement between the mineral faceconveyor and the trough member.

This arrangement ensures that the roadway conveyor is utilized forguiding the roof support system composed of the sets of props and themineral face conveyor but without the need for the former to accompanythe system when part of the latter is advanced. The provision of thetrough member in which the roadway conveyor is received enablesconsiderable space to be saved, so that the installation can also beused with roadways of comparatively small cross section.

According to a further feature of the invention, the trough member isprovided with a guide beam on the side thereof adjacent the mineral faceconveyor, the mineral face conveyor and the further set of props beingslidably guided relative to said beam.

It is preferable for the further set of props and for the mineral faceconveyor to have guide sleeves each of which slidably engages the beam.The sleeves can be interconnected by means of connecting pieces whichare flexibly connected or articulated to said sleeves.

With an installation made in accordance with this invention propsespecially adapted for the purpose in view can be utilized. The positionof the props in relation to one another can be varied by removing andreplacing-the aforementioned connecting pieces as and y when required.At the same time it is of great advantage for a carriage consisting of anumber of interbe taken apart more easily for the purpose of transport Ir to the side where it is to be used.

According to a further feature of the invention the shifting means is inthe form of a hydraulically operated piston and cylinder unit mountedabove the guide beam, the cylinder of said unit being connected to thefurther set of props and the piston rod of said unit being connectedwith the trough member. This not only results ina considerable saving ofspace but prevents the shifting unit from impeding the operation ofmounting and assembling the connecting pieces.

The first set of props, which are rigidly connected with the troughmember, and the further set of props, which are displaceable in respectof the trough member, have to support the roof at the transition pointfrom the mineral face gallery and the roadway gallery. The props aretherefore preferably equipped with head pieces which engage the roof. Inorder to ensure that the props do not interfere with one another, thehead pieces of the further set of props are displaced relative to thehead pieces of the first set of props by a distance correspondingapproximately to the width of each head piece.

It is of advantage for each prop of the first set of props to bedisposed outwardly beyond the side of the roadway conveyor adjacent themineral face conveyor in relating to the further set of props. Moreover,each prop of the first set of props is preferably displaceable in adirection transversely of the trough member with the aid of a shiftingram. The transversal displaceability of the first set of props makes itpossible to adapt the installation to irregularities in the width of theroadway gallery. Furthermore correction can be made, if necessary, tothe direction of movement of the trough member and thus the roadwayconveyor.

According to a further feature of the invention each prop of each set ofprops is provided with means for varying the angle of inclination of theprop in relation to the horizontal. The purpose of this measure is toensure that the props can in each case be adjusted, before the bracingstep to the best possible position for the prevailing conditions. Since,however, the angular position of the props, during the bracingprocesses, may still change as a result of the roof setting pressure,the adjusting means determining the angle of inclination should berelieved of load when the props are set so that it is not subjected toany excessive strain. The means for varying the angle of inclinationeach of the props is in the form of a hydraulically operated piston andcylinder unit. Each prop preferably also has resilient means adapted tobias the prop into a vertical position.

As the position of the mineral face conveyor in respect of the troughmember changes while the conveyor is being fed forward the transferpoint moves along the trough member. Thus it is advisable for the sideplate of the roadway conveyor which faces towards the mineral faceconveyor to be provided at the transfer zone with a recess through whichthe coal face conveyor passes. Additional side places can be situatedon'both sides of the mineral face conveyor and made displaceable 'alongthe sections of the side plates at either side of the recess at least toan extent corresponding to the length of the stroke of the shiftingmeans.

The invention may be understood more readily, and various other featuresof the invention may become more apparent, from consideration of thefollowing description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS A constructional embodiment of the presentinvention will now be described, byway of example only, with referenceto the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a coal mining installation made in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the installation shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3-is a more detailed view of certain elements of the installationof FIGS. 1 and 2 related to the coal face conveyor thereof;

FIG. 4 is a view partially in section taken along the line 4-4 ofFIG. 3;I g

FIG. 5 is a view in section taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a more detailed view of the installation of FIGS. 1 and 2related to one of the roof support props thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT.

The installation depicted in the accompanying drawings has a coal faceconveyor 1 of which only the part adjacent to the roadway gallery isshown. A coal winning machine, not shown in the drawing is moved alongthe conveyor 1 in the usual manner. A drive station for the conveyor 1and the associated winning machine is designated 3.

The mineral obtained from the coal face by the machine is transferredfrom the coal fact conveyor 1 to a roadway conveyor 2 extendinggenerally perpendicularly to the conveyor 1. In the zone of mineraltransference the roadway conveyor 2 is supported in a trough-like member4 which can be seen more readily in FIGS. 2 and 5. The conveyor 2 is notconnected with the member 4 and can therefore move relative thereto.

Roof support props 6, 6', 11, 11' are disposed on the side of theconveyor 2 facing towards the coal face. These props 6, 6, ll, 1 l havebase plates 5, 5', 10, 10' respectively. The roadway gallery roof, shownin outline in FIG. 2 is supported over the transfer zone by the props 6,6', ll, 11' and these props at the same time serve as a shiftingabutment as will be described further hereinafter.

On the side of the roadway conveyor 2 facing towards the coal face thetrough-like member 4 is connected to the base plates 5, 5' of the set ofprops 6, 6' respectively. The base plates 5, 5' are connected to themember 4 by pivotal joints 9, 9 so as to be pivotable in a verticalplane but rigidly secured in a horizontal plane. Thus, the longitudinalaxes of the base plates 5 and 5 are held perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the roadway conveyor 2 but the base plates 5, 5'can adapt themselves to irregularities in the floor. Horizontallydisposed shifting rams 7, only one of which is shown diagrammatically inthe drawing, can be operated to vary the transverse distance between theprop 6, 6' and the trough-like member 4, and thus the roadway conveyor2, as depicted by the double arrow 8.

In contrast to the props 6, 6' the set of props 11, 11' are displaceablealong the trough-like member 4 in the longitudinal direction of theconveyor 2. To this end a guide beam 17 is affixed to the member 4 onthe side thereof facing the coal face and this beam 17 is slidablyengaged by sleeves 18 18" connected with the base plates 10 10'respectively via pivotable joints 14, 14' respectively as shown in FIG.6. The provision of the joints 14, 14' again allow the props 1 1, 1 1 tocope with any uneveness in the floor. In a similar manner the conveyor 1is connected to a further sleeve 18' slidably engaging the beam 17.

In order to ensure the necessary mobility of the conveyor 1 in relationto the sleeve 18' and the guide beam 17 the conveyor 1 is provided witha horizontal shaft 20 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. A guide element 20engages around the shaft 20 and allows the latter to be angularlydisplaced therein in a vertical swinging movement. The element 20 is inturn pivotably connected to the sleeve 18' by means of a vertical pin 21so that the element 20 can be angularly displaced in a horizontalswinging movement. Thus, the conveyor 1 has a certain free movement withhorizontally and vertically in relation to the sleeve 18' and hence theguide beam 17.

The sleeves 18, 18, 18" which are slidably displaceably along the guidebeam 17 are interconnected with one another. In particular, a connectingpiece 24 connects the sleeve 18" to the sleeve 18', and the piece 24 isflexibly connected or articulated to the sleeves 18", 18. Likewise, afurther connecting piece 23 connects the sleeve 18 and the sleeve 18 andthe piece 23 is again flexibly connected or articulated to the sleeveThe pressure medium for actuating the props 6, 6', 11 and 11' isconveyed through conduits which are disposed in protective tubes 27extending over the conveyor 2.

To enable the set of props l l and 11', the conveyor 1 and the drivingstation 3 to be displaced along the trough member 4 in the longitudinaldirection thereof a double-acting hydraulically operated piston andcylinder unit is mounted about the guide beam 17. The cylinder of theunit 15 is affixed to the guide sleeve 18' by a joint 22 and the pistonrod 16 of the unit 15 is effectively connected to the trough member 4since it is affixed to the joint 9' between the base plate 5' of theprop 6' and the member 4. A fixed side plate 31 is disposed on the sideof the conveyor 2 adjacent the conveyor 1. The plate 31 is providedwitha recess over the transferring zone and the conveyor 1 engages or facesthe recess. At each side of the conveyor 1 and connected thereto sideplates 32 are provided which extend longitudinally of the conveyor 2 tooverlap the sections of the plate 31 at either side of the recess. Theside plates 32 can slide along these sections and the amount of overlapis made to correspond with the fall stroke of the unit 15.

The props 6 and 6', and 11 and 11' carry head pieces 12, 13 at theirupper ends, as may be seen from FIG. 2 which pieces 12, 13 engage theroof. The longitudinal axes of these pieces 12, 13 extend parallel tothe longitudinal axis of the conveyor 2. To ensure that the head pieces12, 13 do not interfere with one another the adjacent props 6, l 1 and6' and 11' are laterally displaced from one another in relation to theroadway conveyor 2 by a distance corresponding to the width of one ofthe head pieces 12, 13. Each prop 6, 6, 11 11 is provided with aset ofspring 30 by means of which the props are biased into a substantiallyupright position. To enable the angle of inclination of the props 6, 6',11 and 11' to be adapted to the roof of the props themselves arepivotable about joints 28. The axes of the joints 28 are generallyparallel to the longitudinal axis of the conveyor 2. The angle ofinclination of each of the props 6, 6', ll, 11' can be adjusted by meansof a hydraulically operated piston and cylinder unit 26. Each unit 26 isarticulated or flexibly connected to the base plate of its associatedprop at the point marked 25 and is connected to the prop via a togglelever 29. Each of the units 26 is rendered non-operative whenever theassociated prop is set against the roof to avoid damaging the unit 26.

The shifting operation of the installation is as follows:

It is assumed that the coal face is being advanced to the right ofFIG. 1. At the beginning of the first phase of the work the installationis situated in the position shown, in which all the props 6, 6', l1 and11' are braced against the roof in the roof supporting state. As soon asthe coal face conveyor 1 is to be advanced to the right, the props l1and 11' are retracted and the unit 15 is fed with pressure medium toretract the piston rod 16. The props 1 1 and 11' the conveyor 1 and thedriving station 3 of the conveyor 1 are effectively connected to thecylinder 15 and therefore these parts are shifted to the right along theguide beam 17. The trough member 4 and the road conveyor 2 do not moveand the trough member 4 is firmly secured, in this process, by thebraced props 6 and 6'.

As soon as the driving station 3 has reached the new position the props11 and 11' are once again extended and braced in relation to the roof.This sequence may be repeated several times until the stroke of the unit15 is exhausted. In this position the prop 11' is situated close by theprop 6', while the prop 11 has moved away from the prop 6.

To enable the trough member 4 to follow up the station 3 the props 6 and6' are released, while the props 11 and 11 remain braced. The unit 15 isnow fed with pressure medium in such a way that the piston rod 16extends to push the trough member 4 and the props 6 and 6 to the rightof FIG. 1. The trough member 4 is thus caused to move relative to theroadway conveyor 2. At the end of the stroke of the unit 15 theinstallation is once again in the position shown in FIG. 1. The props 6and 6' can now once again be braced but if necessary, this takes placeafter correction of their transversal distance from the roadway conveyor2 with the aid of the shifting rams 7.

Although the position of the transfer zone between the conveyors 1, 2will be changed in the abovedescribed shifting operation the provisionof the slidable plates 32 ensures correct transference of materialbetween the conveyors 1, 2.

We claim:

1. A mineral mining installation comprising:

a. mineral face conveyor,

b. a roadway conveyor extending generally perpendicularly to the saidmineral face conveyor,

a trough member adapted to receive the roadway conveyor and movable inrelation to the roadway conveyor,

. a set of roof support props disposed on the side of the roadwayconveyor adjacent the mineral face conveyor and connected to said troughmember for movement therewith,

. a further set of roof support props connected to one another and tothe mineral face conveyor for movement therewith, and

f. shifting means for causing relative movement between the mineral faceconveyor and the troug member.

2. An installation according to claim 1, wherein the trough member isprovided with a guide beam on the side thereof adjacent the mineral faceconveyor, the mineral face conveyor and the further set of props beingslidably guided relative to said beam.

3. An installation according to claim 2, wherein the further set ofprops and the mineral face conveyor have guide sleeves each of whichslidably engages the beam.

4. An installation according to claim 3, wherein the sleeves areinterconnected by means of connecting pieces.

5. An installation according to claim 4, wherein said connecting piecesare articulated to the sleeves.

6. An installation according to claim 2 wherein the shifting means is inthe form of a hydraulically operated piston and cylinder unit mountedabout the guide beam, the cylinder of said unit being connected to thefurther set of props and the piston rod of said unit being connectedwith the trough member.

7. An installation according to claim 1, wherein each prop of each setof props has a head piece for engaging the roof and the head pieces ofthe further set of props are displaced relative to the head pieces ofthe first set of props by a distance corresponding approximately to thewidth of each head piece.

8. An installation according to claim 1, wherein each prop of the firstset of props is disposed outwardly beyond the side of the roadwayconveyor adjacent the mineral face conveyor in relation to the furtherset of props and is displacable in a direction transversely of thetrough member with the aid of an associatedshifting ram.

9. An installation according to claim 1 wherein each prop of each set ofprops is provided with means for varying the angle of inclination of theprop in relation to the horizontal.

10. An installation according to claim 9, wherein the means for varyingthe angle of inclination of each of the props is in the form of ahydraulically operating piston and cylinder unit. p

l 1. An installation according to claim 9 wherein each prop hasresilient means adapted to bias the prop into a vertical position.

12. An installation according to claim 1 wherein the roadway conveyorhas afixed side place at the side 13. An installation according to claim12, wherein the additional plates overlap said sections by an amountgreater than the-full stroke of the shifting means.

zg gg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,6915175 Dated September 19, 1972 Inventor(s) Bernhard Holtrup andJohannes Laabs It is certified that error appears in theabove-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

On the first page thereof, following the list of Inventors, please enterthe name and address of the assignee as follows:

Assigne'e: Gewerkschaft Eisenhutte Westfalia.

Wethmar Bei Lunen Westfalia, Germany Signed and sealed this 17th day of,April 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents

1. A mineral mining installation comprising: a. mineral face conveyor,b. a roadway conveyor extending generally perpendicularly to the saidmineral face conveyor, c. a trough member adapted to receive the roadwayconveyor and movable in relation to the roadway conveyor, d. a set ofroof support props disposed on the side of the roadway conveyor adjacentthe mineral face conveyor and connected to said trough member formovement therewith, e. a further set of roof support props connected toone another and to the mineral face conveyor for movement therewith, andf. shifting means for causing relative movement between the mineral faceconveyor and the trough member.
 2. An installation according to claim 1,wherein the trough member is provided with a guide beam on the sidethereof adjacent the mineral face conveyor, the mineral face conveyorand the further set of props being slidably guided relative to saidbeam.
 3. An installation according to claim 2, wherein the further setof props and the mineral face conveyor have guide sleeves each of whichslidably engages the beam.
 4. An installation according to claim 3,wherein the sleeves are interconnected by means of connecting pieces. 5.An installation according to claim 4, wherein said connecting pieces arearticulated to the sleeves.
 6. An installation according to claim 2whErein the shifting means is in the form of a hydraulically operatedpiston and cylinder unit mounted about the guide beam, the cylinder ofsaid unit being connected to the further set of props and the piston rodof said unit being connected with the trough member.
 7. An installationaccording to claim 1, wherein each prop of each set of props has a headpiece for engaging the roof and the head pieces of the further set ofprops are displaced relative to the head pieces of the first set ofprops by a distance corresponding approximately to the width of eachhead piece.
 8. An installation according to claim 1, wherein each propof the first set of props is disposed outwardly beyond the side of theroadway conveyor adjacent the mineral face conveyor in relation to thefurther set of props and is displacable in a direction transversely ofthe trough member with the aid of an associated shifting ram.
 9. Aninstallation according to claim 1 wherein each prop of each set of propsis provided with means for varying the angle of inclination of the propin relation to the horizontal.
 10. An installation according to claim 9,wherein the means for varying the angle of inclination of each of theprops is in the form of a hydraulically operating piston and cylinderunit.
 11. An installation according to claim 9 wherein each prop hasresilient means adapted to bias the prop into a vertical position. 12.An installation according to claim 1 wherein the roadway conveyor has afixed side place at the side thereof which faces towards the mineralface conveyor, the latter being provided with a recess into which themineral face conveyor extends, and there is further provided additionalside plates which are situated at both sides of the mineral faceconveyor and extend parallel to the section of said fixed plate ateither side of the mineral face conveyor to overlap said sections, saidadditional plates being connected to said mineral face conveyor anddisplaceable relative to said sections of the fixed plate.
 13. Aninstallation according to claim 12, wherein the additional platesoverlap said sections by an amount greater than the full stroke of theshifting means.